VISUALIZATION OF THE MICROCIRCULATION IN WEIGHTLESSNESS

NCT03561545 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 17-096
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 16
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

During weightlessness, the cardiovascular system is subject to rapid changes which has been demonstrated in studies of short term (Space Shuttle) and long term missions to Skylab, MIR, and the International Space Station (Nicogossian et al., 1989; Blomquist, 1994; Platts et al., 2014). There is also evidence for changes in the blood vessel structure, the metabolism and the responses to vasodilator and constrictor substances that might have long-term health consequences resembling the effects of aging on the cardiovascular system (Hughson and Shoemaker, 2004). Cardiovascular adaptations cause an increased incidence of postflight orthostatic intolerance (fainting), decreased cardiac output and reduced exercise capacity. Besides these postflight effects, weightlessness could also have harmful consequences during the flight. For example, it has been shown that cardiac arrhythmia may occur during space missions, even in healthy individuals (Convertino, 2009). To understand the cardiovascular reactions of the human body to changing conditions of gravity is thus an important aim of space science. While non-invasive imaging of microcirculation is a very promising tool to evaluate cardiovascular condition, knowledge on the involvement of the microcirculation in cardiovascular alterations induced by weightlessness is very limited and further research in this field seems promising. Before using a non-invasive technique for imaging the microcirculation during space flights, it has to be evaluated on earth. Different proven simulation models exist for investigating the effects of weightlessness on the human body under terrestrial conditions: head down bed rest, dry and wet immersion, and parabolic flights. Among these models, only parabolic flight recreates a real state of weightlessness (see the participant document of information for a description of parabolic flights). Cardiovascular studies have often been performed during parabolic flights. Within the limitations inherent to the method (short duration of weightlessness - about 21 s - following and followed by hypergravity 20 s periods at 1.8g), some remarkable results have been published over the years. The aim of our research approach is to test feasibility of the in vivo evaluation of the microcirculation in parabolic flight in order to be able to better describe cardiovascular response mechanisms under these conditions. In this context, we expect alterations in the microcirculatory flow during the weightlessness period of parabolic flight. Our approach might help develop a diagnostic tool to more easily identify weightlessness-induced cardiovascular diseases and improve strategies for adapting astronauts to weightlessness prior to the space mission.

Conditions

Healthy Volunteers

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Functional capillary density

  baseline

Study Arms (1)

Functional capillary density

EXPERIMENTAL

Functional capillary density during weightlessness

Other: weightlessness (parabolic flight)

Interventions

weightlessness (parabolic flight) OTHER

weightlessness (parabolic flight)

Functional capillary density

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 67 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy volunteers (men or women)
• Aged from 18 to 67
• Affiliated to a Social Security system and, for non-French resident, holding a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
• Who accepted to take part in the study
• Who have given their written stated consent
• Who have passed a medical examination similar to a standard aviation medical examination for private pilot aptitude (JAR FCL3 Class 2 medical examination). There will be no additional test performed for subject selection

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnant women (urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital, Caen: lead

Study Sites (1)

Caen University Hospital

Caen, France

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Weightlessness

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hypogravity; Gravity, Altered; Gravitation; Astronomical Phenomena; Physical Phenomena

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 7, 2018
• First Posted: June 19, 2018
• Study Start: September 11, 2017
• Primary Completion: September 30, 2019
• Study Completion: December 30, 2019
• Last Updated: March 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2024-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FR (1)